BRADENTON -- Precision, elegance and athleticism — all components of synchronized skating. 

"They’re looking for clean, crisp lines. Clean, crisp steps. Everything spot on, almost military style,” explained Ellenton Edge head coach Jade Fulton. 

"You are matched, across your top line, across your feet, across your chin, across your smile, everything has a space to be in.” 

When you think of a synchronized sport, you may think of synchronized swimming. 

However, synchronized skating is increasing in popularity across the United States. 

"Big picture, synchronized skating isn’t a big name locally, but it is up and coming in the United States, and in the world, it is on the 2026 Olympic Bid,” said Fulton. 

It’s a sport in which each member is in concert with every movement of the athlete next to her on the ice. 

Heidi Raley knows patience is key for her and her Allentown Edge teammates. 

“I feel we all need to push as equally as we can, some of us have to work up to another level of difficulty while others have to step back and work with everyone else,” said Raley. 

These skaters also have to adjust to any little misstep and pull everyone back together in an instant.  

"Just with synchro its really hard because there’s a bunch of bodies on the ice. So just making sure that every individual shape is what it’s supposed to look like,” said Grace Myer. "There’s a little pulling and pushing, it may not look like it but it all comes together in the end.” 

It’s something the Ellenton Edge team had to perfect in a short amount of time. The team was formed just five months ago. 

They quickly had to believe in one another. 

"Trust. You and I don’t walk down the street holding hands with a stranger, we wouldn’t do that,” Fulton said. "So why would they get on the ice back in September, virtually strangers and trust each other? I wouldn’t. But they had to find it and they had to find it fast.” 

While the sport looks effortless, it takes countless hours of training and highly-skilled skaters. 

"The top top elite,” said Fulton. "They have to skate individually, they have to train, they have fitness, ballet, cross fit, nutrition.” 

Last month the team competed as the only team from Florida in the U.S. figure skating’s Eastern Sectional Championships. 

“We approximately had 14 practices to do a 2 minute 40 second number in a stadium in front of a couple thousand people up in Albany, New York,” said Fulton. 

That competition turned this team into a family. 

"Before we went out on the ice, we stood in a circle and were all saying positive things to each other, it was just an incredible experience to be with others and compete on the same ice,” said Raley. "Now that there’s synchro in our lives, it’s a whole other world.”

At times, individual skating can feel lonely, but now, these skaters have discovered a new side to the sport. 

“I’ve always loved skating in general, but being with a team makes it feel much stronger,” said Sude Tanrisever. “It gives you a warm feeling, especially when competing, you have a friend to talk to, someone to keep your nerves down a bit.” 

Creating a special bond for a lifetime. 

"I know that some of these girls, and most of them, I’m going to be friends with my entire life.”